Timberwolves rout Clippers 127-101 as Ball scores 24 for first win without Edwards

The Minnesota Timberwolves needed one game to work out how to play without Anthony Edwards. Two nights after a lost-looking home defeat to Golden State, they beat the LA Clippers 127-101 at Target Center on Friday in NBA Cup group play. LaMelo Ball scored a season-high 24 points and Jaden McDaniels added 23, according to ESPN's Associated Press recap.

The win came a day after Edwards had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. The Minnesota Star Tribune reported the procedure could keep him out for up to two months. That is a long stretch for a team built around its star, and Friday was the first evidence that the supporting cast can carry it.

McDaniels was the most efficient player on the floor. He shot 11 of 15 and added seven assists and six rebounds while taking on much of the defensive work. Ball hit six 3-pointers, three of them in the fourth quarter, and added seven assists. Bones Hyland gave Minnesota 19 points and eight assists off the bench, and Rudy Gobert grabbed 13 rebounds, DAZN reported. Field Level Media noted that Ayo Dosunmu, in his second straight start in Edwards' spot, had 15 points and seven rebounds.

The passing stood out most. Minnesota had 32 assists and 62 points in the paint, and it turned 18 Clippers turnovers into 28 points. The Wolves led 34-24 after one quarter and 69-56 at the half. A 20-2 run in the fourth pushed the lead as high as 29, and the Clippers never led by more than three. Backup guard Jaylen Clark took turns guarding Darius Garland, who scored 24 but committed five turnovers, and Clark finished plus-23 in 17 minutes. The Clippers, still without Brandon Ingram and Max Strus, fell to 1-4 with their fourth straight loss.

What it means for San Antonio

The Timberwolves are 4-2. Their season so far splits cleanly. All four wins came by more than 20 points: Miami by 25, Orlando by 22, Toronto by 23 and now the Clippers by 26. Both losses were close, 127-125 at Cleveland and 119-114 to Golden State. Friday's win ended a two-game skid.

Saturday's trip to San Antonio is the second night of a back-to-back, with the first game without Edwards on the road. The Spurs have Victor Wembanyama, who had 29 points and 10 rebounds in Tuesday's home win over Sacramento.

The board shows how much the market expects Edwards' absence to matter. San Antonio is heavily favored, at -525 on the moneyline on Novig, with Minnesota at +488. On the spread, Novig lists the Wolves at +12.5 for -108. The most points anywhere for Minnesota is +13.5 at BetRivers, priced at -117. For the Spurs, Novig has -12.5 at +102, and FanDuel offers the shortest number, -11.5 at -115. The total sits at 226.5 on Novig, and Hard Rock Bet has 227.5 on the under at -115. Across the 12 venues, the spread and total are each about a point apart. Sportsbook hold runs from 3.0% to 5.7% depending on the market.

Minnesota beat the Clippers by moving the ball and forcing mistakes. Saturday will show whether that approach holds up on the road against a stronger opponent.